‘Not sporty, but really tailored to comfort’
In 2019, Mercedes-Benz introduced the EQC. This SUV was the first model under the new EQ label, but you didn’t have to be an expert to see that there was a lot of GLC between the quirky front and rear. Mercedes delivered around 1,500 EQCs in our country, ten of whose owners left a review on this site. What do they think of their electric SUV?
The Mercedes-Benz EQC did not last long, the brand pulled the plug after just four years. This also seems to apply to the EQ label, so it is still unclear whether the EQC successor will bear the same name. Enough now about name spaghetti and model politics, on to the car. A Mercedes-Benz EQC is always a ‘400’ and offers four-wheel drive, 408 hp and 760 Nm of torque. The battery pack has a gross 85 (and net 80) kWh capacity.
Space and seating comfort
With a relatively large SUV you expect a spacious seat and sufficient space for your belongings. On that point, the EQC doesn’t seem to disappoint. “I have some experience with premium cars and comfort, expectations are high. In terms of seats – you really can’t call it a chair – this is the best I have ever experienced. Really amazing. They can be perfectly adjusted in all areas, so that a long ride may suddenly not be long enough. The seat bolsters can be adjusted to your wishes, which contributes to very good lateral support. I love that,” writes a clearly enthusiastic rider.
Another EQC driver is slightly less enthusiastic about the seats, precisely because they are such seats. “Seats are comfortable, although they are actually a bit too wide for me and I would have liked a little more side support.” It is not clear whether this user has not yet found the button for adjusting the sidewalls or whether his car simply does not have this. There is greater enthusiasm about the rear seat: “The back seat is spacious and with a good seating position for adults, no raised knees as in the Tesla Model 3 and Kia EV6.”
The trunk can also count on positive feedback. The trunk is spacious, with a nice flat loading floor. There is also plenty of space under the loading floor for charging cables, but also for a pair of extra shoes or empty shopping bags.”
Those who prefer understatements could write: “The space inside is not too bad, in terms of dimensions it is slightly shorter than the E-Class station wagon, but in terms of height and width it is the same size or even slightly more spacious. You also have plenty of storage space available under the trunk floor.”
MBUX infotainment
Many complaints with modern cars relate to the infotainment system. This does not appear to be the case with the Mercedes EQC. On the contrary, most riders don’t even talk about it. Someone who does write about it is the next rider, who is quite pleased with the system. “The MBUX multimedia system is very good. And while it’s not a big tablet, it’s intuitive and fast. It has also been around for several years and is well developed. All controls from cruise to windshield wipers are also in a nice place, and thank goodness there are regular buttons for adjusting the temperature!” Yet according to this driver, all that glitters is not gold, at least not without an additional payment. “You often have to cut corners. Do you want Apple CarPlay? Pay. Activate the dashcam via software? Pay. Cheaper charging at Ionity? Pay. Etc. And this all involves hundreds of euros. The customer as a cash cow,” he notes.
What is standard: the extensive voice assistant, with which many car functions can be controlled. You can summon the assistant with a voice command if desired, but the next rider no longer does that. “I turned off the ‘Hey Mercedes’ because it (very) sometimes seems to have a life of its own. I now simply activate the voice control with the button on the steering wheel.”
How does the Mercedes-Benz EQC drive?
So far, riders are quite positive about their EQC. When it comes to driving, opinions are more divided. “What a wonderful car to drive. What a silence, the electric motor is barely perceptible, rolling noises are surprisingly well damped and there is hardly any wind noise. What a wealth. So that was all right,” is such a satisfied response.
Another rider endorses these properties, but also experiences the downside. “What a quiet, comfortable car. Are there no downsides? However, the car is not designed for sporty driving, it is really tailored to comfort. He clearly shows this when taking bends or speed bumps at a higher speed. The EQC really doesn’t like that.”
The challenges of the EQC appear not only to lie in sporty handling, according to this owner not all speed bumps are his best friend, which we often read. “First impression: the best finished and quietest EV to date. It is a privilege to drive/glide around with this. You have to get used to the weight and suspension, but then a problem-free car that goes over some speed bumps imperceptibly, but makes you slow down to 30 km/h for others.”
So it really depends on the situation whether you like the EQC. “If you only drive on the highway, this is a comfortable car. However, if you drive through the city or back roads, you will notice that this car is very heavy, causing the car to lean more than normal in bends and every speed bump is an attack on your spine,” said an EQC driver who was initially pleased with the silence and driving comfort.
Consumption and range
Most EQC drivers appear to be able to get by just fine with their net 80 kWh battery pack. “The consumption was not too bad, but it is certainly not the most economical. Still, I can easily reach 400 km in 15+ degrees, and 320 km in colder weather. The realistic consumption is between 20 and 25 kWh/100 km, with peaks of 18 on summer days and 27-29 in freezing cold and winter conditions,” this driver explains the expected range.
“Normally the range is around 300 km in winter and around 400 km in summer, so that is fine for daily use,” reports a driver who consciously uses energy by preheating or cooling the car. In general, it seems that EQC drivers have a minimum range of 250 to 280 kilometers, with a positive range of up to 450 kilometers.
Disruptions and irritations
What really stands out when reading the reviews is the small number of problems that owners experience. In fact, the EQC seems to be a practically problem-free car, and for a new EV we can safely call that unique. It does not mean that every car is completely trouble-free. One rider experienced a serious sounding brake problem. “In the beginning it happened a number of times that the car hardly responded to the brake pedal and that I had to press it quite hard to stop the car in time. I reported this problem to the dealer, who responded immediately and scheduled a work appointment. After the car was checked, the problem was resolved.” Unfortunately, we will never know what caused it. “When asked, no answer was given as to what was actually wrong with the brakes.”
Apart from this problem, the Mercedes-Benz EQC appears to be a fairly successful attempt. Driving comfort, especially the silence on board, seems to be at a very high level. This applies to a lesser extent to the chassis, which a striking number of drivers report does not provide the most consistent driving experience. Technically there seems to be little to worry about with the EQC, drivers report surprisingly few problems. Would the traditional GLC influences have saved this EQC from that?
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl